SALVADOR, Brazil (AP) — Jozy Altidore (JOH’-zee AL’-tih-dohr) will be available for the U.S. in today’s World Cup game against Belgium, although it doesn’t appear he’s ready to start. The forward strained his left hamstring in the Americans’ opener against Ghana on June 16 and didn’t appear in their next two games. The U.S. Soccer Federation tweeted that Altidore “is ready and available.”

NEW YORK (AP) — The Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee have agreed to a deal that allows Jason Kidd to become the Bucks’ coach. The Nets will receive a second-round draft pick in 2015 that was formerly their own, and another in 2019 belonging to either Milwaukee or Sacramento. Kidd went 44-38 in his only season as Nets coach, but then sought control of the basketball operations department and was denied.

BALTIMORE (AP) — Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado (muh-CHAH’-doh) has begun serving his suspension after losing his appeal. Machado originally was suspended June 10 for intentionally throwing his bat on the field during an at-bat in Baltimore’s game against Oakland on June 8.

DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Avalanche have acquired veteran forward Daniel Briere (bree-EHR’) from the Montreal Canadiens for right wing P.A. Parenteau (PAR’-ehn-toh) and a fifth-round pick in next year’s draft. Briere had 13 goals and 12 assists in 69 games last season. Parenteau registered 14 goals and 19 since while missing 25 games last season after hurting both knees during the year.